SmartStop Self Storage REIT, Inc. Reports Strong Third Quarter 2021 Results With Best in Class Same-Store Revenue & NOI Growth

SmartStop Self Storage REIT, Inc. (“SmartStop”), a self-managed and fully-integrated self storage company, announced its overall results for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2021.

“This was a truly exciting quarter for SmartStop. We posted year-over-year same-store revenue and NOI growth of 19.4% and 28.1% for the quarter, respectively, both higher than all of our publicly-traded peers,” said H. Michael Schwartz, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of SmartStop. “Gross margins on our same-store pool improved to 71.4%, a year-over-year increase of 480 basis points, and the highest in our Company’s history. Our exceptional property performance, coupled with our disciplined investment strategy, led to year-over-year growth of FFO, as adjusted per share of approximately 125% in the quarter. With ample attractively priced capital, a strong balance sheet and a robust operating environment, we believe SmartStop is well positioned to continue executing our growth initiatives, driving stockholder value in 2021 and beyond.”

Three Months Ended September 30, 2021 Financial Highlights:

• Net loss attributable to common stockholders was approximately $2.2 million for the three months ended September 30, 2021. This represents a decrease of approximately $4.0 million when compared to the same period in 2020. Net loss per Class A and Class T shares (basic and diluted) was $0.03, a decrease of $0.07, or 70%, when compared to the same period in 2020.
• Total self storage-related revenues increased by approximately $14.6 million, or 51.8%, when compared to the same period in 2020.
• FFO, as adjusted (attributable to common stockholders and Operating Partnership (“OP”) unit holders), was approximately $13.6 million. This represents an increase of approximately $9.2 million, or 209%, when compared to the same period in 2020.
• FFO, as adjusted per share and OP unit outstanding - diluted was $0.14, an increase of $0.08, or 124.7%, when compared to the same period in 2020.
• Same-store revenues, expenses and NOI increased by 19.4%, 2.3% and 28.1%, respectively compared to the same period in 2020.
• Same-store average physical occupancy increased by 4.2% to 95.9% compared to 91.7% during the same period in 2020.
• Same-store annualized rent per occupied square foot was approximately $16.92, which represented an increase of approximately 15.3% when compared to the same period in 2020.

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2021 Financial Highlights:

• Net loss attributable to common stockholders was approximately $20.0 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2021. This represents a decrease of approximately $29.8 million when compared to the same period in 2020. Net loss per Class A and Class T shares (basic and diluted) was $0.26, a decrease of $0.58, or 69.0%, when compared to the same period in 2020.
• Total self storage-related revenues increased by approximately $32.9 million, or 40.6%, when compared to the same period in 2020.
• Same-store revenues, expenses and NOI increased by 16.9%, 3.5% and 23.7%, respectively compared to the same period in 2020.
• Same-store average physical occupancy increased by 4.8% to 94.9%, compared to 90.1% during the same period in 2020.
• Same-store annualized rent per occupied square foot was approximately $16.11, which represented an increase of approximately 9.9% when compared to the same period in 2020.

External Growth

In August, the Company opened a newly constructed four story self storage facility in Oshawa, Ontario, Canada in partnership with SmartCentres (TSX: SRU.UN). This facility serves the communities of Vanier, Mclaughlin, Whitby, Eastdale, Stevenson, and Farewell and is conveniently located adjacent to the SmartCentres Oshawa South shopping center, the Walmart Supercenter and Lowe’s Home Improvement. The property’s 950 units are 100% climate-controlled across approximately 95,000 square feet. This is SmartStop’s 18th owned or managed location in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA).

Subsequent to quarter end, the Company acquired a self storage facility in Lakewood, CO. The facility serves the communities of Green Mountain, Foothills, Briarwood Hills, West Lochwood and Chateau Ridge Estates. The property’s 770 units span across approximately 87,000 square feet. The property offers customers a variety of amenities including a gated drive-in loading area, state-of-the-art security systems, keypad access and large truck accessibility. This is SmartStop’s seventh owned or managed location in the Denver market.

Capital Markets Activity

Subsequent to quarter end, the Company exercised $200 million of its accordion (the “Accordion”) under its existing multi-currency credit facility (the “Credit Facility”) with a syndicate of banks led by KeyBank National Association, Wells Fargo, N.A., Citibank, N.A. and Bank of Montreal. The increased commitment was entirely on the revolving portion of the Credit Facility (the “Revolver”). The Credit Facility now consists of a $450 million Revolver and a $250 million term loan (the “Term Loan”) for a total commitment of $700 million. The Accordion was also amended to permit expansion up to $1.05 billion, subject to certain conditions. The other terms and conditions of the Credit Facility remain unchanged.

Net Asset Value

Subsequent to quarter end, the Company announced that its board of directors has declared an updated estimated Net Asset Value (“NAV”) per share of $15.08 for its Class A and Class T shares, as of June 30, 2021. SmartStop’s previous estimated NAV per share was $10.40 as of December 31, 2019. Please see SmartStop’s Form 8-K filed on October 20, 2021 for a description of the methodologies and assumptions used to determine, and the limitations of, the estimated NAV per share.

Declared Distributions

On September 23, 2021, SmartStop’s board of directors declared a distribution rate for the fourth quarter of 2021, of approximately $0.00164 per day per share on the outstanding shares of common stock payable to both Class A and Class T stockholders. In connection with these distributions, after the stockholder servicing fee is paid, approximately $0.0014 per day will be paid per Class T share. Such distributions payable to each stockholder of record during a month will be paid the following month.

SMARTSTOP SELF STORAGE REIT, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

COMPUTATION OF SAME-STORE OPERATING RESULTS

(Unaudited)

The following table sets forth operating data for SmartStop’s same-store facilities (those properties included in the consolidated results of operations since January 1, 2020, excluding nine lease-up properties SmartStop owned as of January 1, 2020) for the three months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020. SmartStop considers the following data to be meaningful as this allows for the comparison of results without the effects of acquisition, lease up, or development activity.

N/M Not meaningful

SmartStop’s same-store revenue increased by approximately $5.1 million or approximately 19% for the three months ended September 30, 2021 compared to the three months ended September 30, 2020 primarily due to higher annualized rent per occupied square foot as well as increased occupancy.

The following table presents a reconciliation of net income (loss) as presented on SmartStop’s consolidated statements of operations to net operating income, as stated above, for the periods indicated:

The following table sets forth operating data for SmartStop’s same-store facilities (those properties included in the consolidated results of operations since January 1, 2020, excluding nine lease-up properties SmartStop owned as of January 1, 2020) for the nine months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020. SmartStop considers the following data to be meaningful as this allows for the comparison of results without the effects of acquisition, lease up, or development activity.

N/M Not meaningful

SmartStop’s same-store revenue increased by approximately $12.9 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2021 compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2020 due to higher annualized rent per occupied square foot and increased occupancy.

The following table presents a reconciliation of net loss as presented on SmartStop’s consolidated statements of operations to net operating income, as stated above, for the periods indicated:

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION REGARDING NOI, FFO, and FFO, as adjusted

Net Operating Income (“NOI”)

NOI is a non-GAAP measure that SmartStop defines as net income (loss), computed in accordance with GAAP, generated from properties before corporate general and administrative expenses, asset management fees, interest expense, depreciation, amortization, acquisition expenses and other non-property related expenses. SmartStop believes that NOI is useful for investors as it provides a measure of the operating performance of its operating assets because NOI excludes certain items that are not associated with the ongoing operation of the properties. Additionally, SmartStop believes that NOI (also referred to as property operating income) is a widely accepted measure of comparative operating performance in the real estate community. However, SmartStop’s use of the term NOI may not be comparable to that of other real estate companies as they may have different methodologies for computing this amount.

Funds from Operations (“FFO”) and FFO, as Adjusted

Funds from Operations

Funds from operations (“FFO”) is an industry wide metric promulgated by the National Association of Real Estate Investment Trusts, or NAREIT, which SmartStop believes to be an appropriate supplemental measure to reflect the operating performance of a REIT. The use of FFO is recommended by the REIT industry as a supplemental performance measure.

SmartStop defines FFO, a non-GAAP measure, consistent with the standards established by the White Paper on FFO approved by the Board of Governors of NAREIT, or the White Paper. The White Paper defines FFO as net income (loss) computed in accordance with GAAP, excluding gains or losses from sales of property and asset impairment write downs, plus depreciation and amortization, and after adjustments for unconsolidated partnerships and joint ventures. Additionally, gains and losses from change in control are excluded from the determination of FFO. Adjustments for unconsolidated partnerships and joint ventures are calculated to reflect FFO on the same basis. SmartStop’s FFO calculation complies with NAREIT’s policy described above.

FFO, as Adjusted

SmartStop uses FFO, as adjusted, as an additional non-GAAP financial measure to evaluate its operating performance. SmartStop previously used Modified Funds from Operations (“MFFO”) (as defined by the Institute for Portfolio Alternatives) as a non-GAAP measure of operating performance. Management replaced the MFFO measure with FFO, as adjusted, because FFO, as adjusted, provides investors with supplemental performance information that is consistent with the performance models and analysis used by management. In addition, FFO, as adjusted, is a measure used among SmartStop’s peer group, which includes publicly traded REITs. Further, SmartStop believes FFO, as adjusted, is useful in comparing the sustainability of its operating performance with the sustainability of the operating performance of other real estate companies.

In determining FFO, as adjusted, SmartStop makes further adjustments to the NAREIT computation of FFO to exclude the effects of non-real estate related asset impairments and intangible amortization, acquisition related costs, other write-offs incurred in connection with acquisitions, contingent earnout adjustments, adjustments of fair value of debt adjustments, gains or losses from extinguishment of debt, accretion of deferred tax liabilities, realized and unrealized gains/losses on foreign exchange transactions, and gains/losses on foreign exchange and interest rate derivatives not designated for hedge accounting, which SmartStop believes are not indicative of the Company’s overall long-term operating performance. SmartStop excludes these items from GAAP net income to arrive at FFO, as adjusted, as they are not the primary drivers in its decision-making process and excluding these items provides investors a view of its continuing operating portfolio performance over time and makes its results more comparable period to period and to other REITs, which in any respective period may experience fluctuations in such acquisition, merger or other similar activities that are not of a long-term operating performance nature. FFO, as adjusted, also reflects adjustments for unconsolidated partnerships and jointly owned investments. SmartStop uses FFO, as adjusted, as one measure of operating performance when SmartStop formulates corporate goals and evaluate the effectiveness of its strategies.

Presentation of FFO and FFO, as adjusted, is intended to provide useful information to investors as they compare the operating performance of different REITs, although it should be noted that not all REITs calculate FFO and FFO, as adjusted, the same way, so comparisons with other REITs may not be meaningful. Furthermore, FFO and FFO, as adjusted, are not necessarily indicative of cash flow available to fund cash needs and should not be considered as an alternative to net income (loss) or income (loss) from continuing operations as an indication of SmartStop’s performance, as an alternative to cash flows from operations, which is an indication of liquidity, or indicative of funds available to fund SmartStop’s cash needs including SmartStop’s ability to make distributions to its stockholders. FFO and FFO, as adjusted, should not be considered as an alternative to net income (determined in accordance with GAAP) and should be reviewed in conjunction with other measurements as an indication of SmartStop’s performance.

Neither the SEC, NAREIT, nor any other regulatory body has passed judgment on the acceptability of the adjustments that SmartStop uses to calculate FFO or FFO, as adjusted. In the future, the SEC, NAREIT or another regulatory body may decide to standardize the allowable adjustments across the publicly registered, non-traded REIT industry and SmartStop would have to adjust its calculation and characterization of FFO or FFO, as adjusted.

About SmartStop Self Storage REIT, Inc. (“SmartStop”):

SmartStop is a self-managed REIT with a fully integrated operations team of approximately 400 self storage professionals focused on growing the SmartStop® Self Storage brand. SmartStop, through its indirect subsidiary SmartStop REIT Advisors, LLC, also sponsors other self storage programs. SmartStop is one of the largest self storage companies in North America, with an owned and managed portfolio of 158 properties in 19 states and Ontario, Canada and comprising approximately 107,000 units and 12.2 million rentable square feet. SmartStop and its affiliates own or manage 18 operating self storage properties in the Greater Toronto Area, which total approximately 15,200 units and 1.6 million rentable square feet. Additional information regarding SmartStop is available at www.smartstopselfstorage.com.

Certain of the matters discussed in this communication constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements can generally be identified by our use of forward-looking terminology such as “may,” “will,” “expect,” “intend,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” “believe,” “continue,” or other similar words. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements and any such forward-looking statements are qualified in their entirety by reference to the following cautionary statements.

All forward-looking statements speak only as of the date hereof and are based on current expectations and involve a number of assumptions, risks and uncertainties that could cause the actual results to differ materially from such forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements about the expected effects and benefits of the SST IV merger, the SSGT merger, the self administration transaction and the Series A Preferred equity investment, including anticipated future financial and operating results and synergies, as well as all other statements in this press release, other than historical facts. There are several factors which could cause actual plans and results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in forward-looking statements, including, without limitation, the following: (i) risks related to disruption of management’s attention from SmartStop’s ongoing business operations due to the SST IV merger, the self administration transaction, or other business matters; (ii) significant transaction costs, including financing costs, and unknown liabilities; (iii) failure to realize the expected benefits and synergies of either of the SST IV merger, the SSGT merger or the self administration transaction in the expected timeframes or at all; (iv) costs or difficulties related to the integration of acquired self storage facilities and operations, including facilities acquired through the SST IV merger, the SSGT merger and operations acquired through the self administration transaction; (v) changes in the political and economic climate, economic conditions and fiscal imbalances in the United States, and other major developments, including wars, natural disasters, epidemics and pandemics, including the outbreak of novel coronavirus (COVID-19), military actions, and terrorist attacks; (vi) changes in tax and other laws and regulations; or (vii) difficulties in SmartStop’s ability to attract and retain qualified personnel and management.

Actual results may differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements. In addition, the forward-looking statements represent SmartStop’s views as of the date on which such statements were made. SmartStop anticipates that subsequent events and developments may cause its views to change. These forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as representing SmartStop’s views as of any date subsequent to the date hereof. Additional factors that may affect the business or financial results of SmartStop are described in the risk factors included in SmartStop’s filings with the SEC, including SmartStop’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020 and subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Current Reports on Form 8-K, which factors are incorporated herein by reference, all of which are filed with the SEC and available at www.sec.gov. SmartStop expressly disclaims a duty to provide updates to forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or other occurrences.

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